ANN/THE STAR – Your child is going through puberty, and you notice moodiness, overreactions, or unusual behaviour.
Is this just typical puberty moodiness or a sign of a mood disorder?
Sadness and moodiness are normal teenage emotions. However, when these feelings become extreme, prolonged, or occur without an external cause, and interfere with daily life, they may indicate a mood disorder.
During puberty, behaviours such as moodiness and recklessness are common. This is because the amygdala, responsible for immediate emotional reactions, develops earlier than the prefrontal cortex, which manages rational thinking and behavioural inhibition.
For parents, it can be challenging to distinguish between normal teenage moodiness and an underlying mood disorder, like depression or bipolar disorder, as the signs may appear similar.
Identifying Mood Disorders in Teens
Mood disorders are mental health conditions that disrupt one’s emotional state. Teens with mood disorders may experience extreme or persistent emotions such as happiness, sadness, anger, or irritability, lasting for several weeks or longer. These disorders can significantly affect daily routines, relationships, and performance at school or work.
Common mood disorders include:
– Depression (e.g., persistent depressive disorder, seasonal affective disorder)
– Bipolar disorder (e.g., bipolar I and II, cyclothymic disorder)
– Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)
– Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD)
Key Factors to Differentiate Mood Disorders from Normal Moodiness
Severity: When symptoms are noticeable and severe, it is likely a mood disorder rather than a passing mood. Symptoms may include drastic changes in mood, unusual behaviours like excessive sleeping or eating, withdrawing from family and friends, and feelings of hopelessness or loneliness. For instance, while it’s normal for teens to sleep late on weekends and feel tired on school mornings, it’s concerning if they sleep all the time and refuse to get out of bed.
Duration: Any unusual mood or behaviour persisting for two weeks or longer may indicate a mood disorder. Symptoms may appear irregularly but occur frequently over a year. It’s normal for teens to have mood swings that seem excessive compared to the triggering event. However, a persistent negative mood or irritability lasting for weeks is concerning.
Domain: Symptoms affecting multiple areas of a teen’s life, such as home, school, and friendships, may indicate a mood disorder. It’s typical for teens to occasionally avoid interacting with family, but avoiding all interactions and experiencing a decline in school performance are signs of a mood disorder.
Risk Factors and Seeking Help
Certain teens are at higher risk of developing mood disorders. These include teens with self-esteem issues, learning disabilities, those who have experienced physical or sexual abuse, have a family history of mental health problems, or have recently faced traumatic events.
If you suspect your teen is experiencing a mood disorder, consult a healthcare professional and continue to provide support. – Dr Thiyagar Nadarajaw
